Fiestas Patrias is here again and the long weekend celebrating Peruvian independence is upon us! I love a long weekend.

But how to celebrate and spend this long weekend I hear you ask? You have but 2 options.

Leave Lima for fun and frolics elsewhere in the country (Cusco, Arequipa, Mancora…) OR like myself, stay in Lima and enjoy the city when it is much emptier and quieter.

So, if you have decided to head off on holiday and take advantage of the time away from work, or the fact that it is school holidays as well, then enjoy your trip away and relax!

If, on the other hand, you are in Lima, then what is there to do?

1. Well, you could enjoy the space and freedom of the parks in various districts, and enjoy them with less traffic around. Perhaps you have wanted to hang out in the Bosque El Olivar in San Isidro, but normally the traffic to get there would make you rather stay in bed than fight through the hoards of cars, then now is the time to take advantage. Take your kids, your dogs, or if you’re really brave take a picnic (the weather really isn’t making this one a great idea though).

2. Check out the museums, archaeological sites, or galleries with less crowds to contend with. It makes for a much more pleasant experience. Perhaps check out Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, MATE in Barranco or The Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History in Pueblo Libre.

3. Buy a ticket for the Feria del Hogar in Chorrillos. It runs from July 24th-10th August and tickets cost S/40. It is a huge fair or exhibition of products in Peru, from home and beauty to food and technology. There are also fairground style rides and bands playing too. There is a different big act playing every day, most of which you will have to pay extra to see. However, Juan Diego Florez (a great Peruvian tenor) is playing on 2nd of August and his performance is included in your ticket price, but space is obviously limited, so not all ticket holders will get in.

4. Eat.

This is a serious suggestion. Around Fiestas Patrias restaurants make special dishes, menus, or items to celebrate the holiday, and sometimes restaurants, vendors and shops can give really good deals. Also, less people means less traffic (yes, again) and therefore everywhere is much easier to get to, and much less stress. This weekend, you could probably drive through about 3 districts in the space of time it might have taken you to drive to the end of your street on a normal day*.

*This is a humungous exaggeration, but I feel it makes my point.

Places are also a little emptier, so it can be easier to get a table or you might spend less time queuing. Enjoy this while it lasts.

So here are a few deals or specials to sink your teeth into this weekend.

• Befriend Barranco Beer Company on Facebook, apply for a code, and then you can drink 500ml chopps for just S/10 on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday (stock permitting obi). They brew their beer onsite so you would be drinking proper Peruvian beer.
• Check out Miss Cupcakes and her special for Fiestas Patrias: Charada cupcakes. Charadas are the Peruvian version of Oreo’s but with a slightly darker (less sweet) taste. These cupcakes should be super tasty so get one while you can. The last day to purchase them is today. She also sells big badges to wear to show your Peruvian pride, I believe designed by Edward Venero and his label VNRO.
• La Casa del Alfajor has large alfajores with added patriotic designs to celebrate Fiestas Patrias.

 

Even without a deal, discount or special, you absolutely should eat proper Peruvian food and celebrate Peru. Go all out and eat in Astrid & Gaston or head to your local cevicheria or criollo restaurant, just make sure you eat Peruvian.

One of my favourite places to eat good hearty Peruvian food, aside from my house, is Rincon Chami, on Calle Esperanza in Miraflores. It serves big helpings of traditional dishes like Aji de Gallina, Tacu Tacu a lo Pobre (my personal favourite), and Arroz con Pollo. It also does a great Pastel de Choclo and has a big list of desserts. If you want to eat traditional Peruvian food without breaking the bank, this would be my pick. Gaston Arcurio’s Tanta makes some great Peruvian food including Lomo Saltado, Ceviche and Suspiro de Limeña. Maybe you would prefer something smaller, so head to El Chinito for their Sandwich de Chicharron or grab some Salchipapas from the Barranco Beer Company whilst drinking your S/10 chopp I mentioned above (brewed onsite)! To finish up with, grab a slice of Turron from Pasteleria San Martin and have yourself a pisco sour or two.

 

If you are in the UK, do not fret, celebrate with us! There are a few Peruvian restaurants on your doorstep. Well, if you live in London anyway!

Ceviche (check out their website for activities over the holiday) and Andina were opened by the same person (Martin Morales), and also Lima restaurant (opened by the owner of Central right here in Lima) now has an offshoot called Lima Floral. Also I believe a new Nikkei (a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese food which is extremely popular here in Lima) restaurant has opened in London too called Chotto Matte. I can only recommend Ceviche, as I haven’t been to any of the others, but why not try one out. It’s the perfect weekend to do it, and with the weather as hot as it is in the UK, a ceviche is just what the doctor ordered!

Whatever you do, Happy Fiestas Patrias!!

E